Pivot action brassiere



Sept. 26, 1961 L. L. KRIEGER PIVOT ACTION BRASSIERE 2 SheetsSheet 1 Filed July 17, 1958 INVENTOR.

LARRY L. KRIEGER A TTORNE Y Sept. 26, 1961 L. L. KRIEGER PIVOT ACTION BRASSIERE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 17, 1958 INVENTOR. LARRY L. KRIEGER ATTORNEY 3,001,526 PIVOT ACTION BRASSIERE Larry L. Krieger, Dover, DeL, assignor to International Latex Corporation, Dover, Del., a corporation of Dela- Ware Filed July 17, 1958, Ser. No. 749,258 7 Claims. (Cl. 128-489) My invention relates to brassieres for supporting and molding the breasts.

An object of the invention is to provide a comfortable transmission of tension between the front and back of the body encircling band so that a firm support for the breasts is provided in front of the brassiere with a minimum tendency for the brassiere to ride up in the back. Sufficient tension to maintain the brassiere in a fixed position girthwise may often exert an uncomfortable and circulation reducing restraint on the breasts.

A further object is to provide a simple brassiere construction which will adapt itself to the lower portion of the pectoral muscle and its associated adipose tissue. Support of this tissue contributes greatly to the comfort of a brassiere but too much restraint, particularly if unyielding, creates a bulge which is unsightly and which may often be observed through a dress. Excessive restraint is uncomfortable to the wearer especially when the arms are moved upwardly or sidewardly or when the trunk is turned. On the other hand, if the brassiere does not provide sufiicient restraint, the support may be inadequate and the upward position of the side of the brassiere may gape open.

An important object is to attain the foregoing in a brassiere which will maintain its position when the body is turned or shifted from its normal position.

I obtain these and other objects of the invention by the use of a pivot action in a brassiere having a body encircling band forming an inelastic anchorage with the front breast supporting section. This construction comprises an upper elastic member attached to the outer periphery of the adjacent breast cup and to the body encircling band and a lower elastic member attached to the body encircling band and to the lower portion of the breast supporting section. These two members in conjunction with the pivot will allow adequate angular elastic movement between the front section and the band at the pivot, with full support of the breast, causing the body band to ride up the back or to increase the encircling tension.

I have found that this construction molds the breasts and covers the upper outer'periphery thereof without binding or chafing the pectoral muscle even when the body is twisted or moved from its normal position.

The new results obtained from my construction will be apparent from the embodiment described in the following specification, particularly pointedout in the claims, and illustrated in the accompanyingdrawing in which:

FIGURE 1 is a plan view of the front of an opened brassiere incorporating the invention.

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of the brassiere, as worn.

FIGURE 3 is a diagrammatic view of the pivot action.

FIGURE 4 is a plan view of an opened longline brassiere incorporating the invention.

FIGURES 5 and 6 illustrate sections of different brassieres employing modified constructions.

The brassiere 10 illustrated in FIGURES l-3 comprises a front section 12 having breast cups 14 and a body encircling band 16 made of inelastic material. The

band, for convenience, may be divided into two sections 18 and 20, terminating into elastic portions 22 and 24 provided with fastening means such as the hooks 26 and a plural row of eyes 28 for adjustable closure.

and without Shoulder straps 30 may be attached to the top of each breast cup such as by means of a looped strap 32 extending through the connector 34.

The breast cups are constructed preferably of lightweight, pliable, otherwise shaped and sewn. Attached to the bottom and inner edge of the lower portion of each cup, as by sewing, is the front supporting panel 42, similarly made of fabric. The upper edge of the panel follows the lower periphery of each cup, and may be made of inelastic or elastic material.

In accordance with the present invention, a pivot construction is provided between the front section 12 and the body band comprising upper and lower elastic members 46 and 48 respectively which permits the front section to pivot at area, region or point 5t where the body encircling band is inelastically anchored to the front section. Thus the rearward edge 52 of the upper elastic member 46 may be attached to the upper lateral edge 54 of the body band, with the forward edge 56 of the elastic member attached to the upper outer periphery 58 of the breast cup, starting from the pivot area 59. The line of the attachment may extend upwardly along the periphery of the cup to the position 60 over the breast, partially covering the pectoral muscle which it supports.

The lower elastic member 48 is positioned directly below the pivot area 50 and is similarly attached at its rearward edge 62 to the lower lateral edge 54 of the body band, with the forward edge 64 extending inwardly along the bottom periphery 40 of the cup to which it may be attached. The forward edge is also attached to the edge 66 of the panel 42 except when the panel is made of elastic material, in which case lower elastic member 48 and panel 42 may be made of a single piece of elastic material.

In FIGURE 3,I

have illustrated diagrammatically,

various possible positions of the front section 12 relative to the body band. In position a, the elastic members 46 and 48 are not under tension. This is the standard position of nonuse. In position b, the brassiere is under normal tension for supporting the breasts. In position 0,

the body has been moved so that the front section is angularly displaced with respect to the body band about the pivot area 50. Advantageously, the brassiere is constructed so that the pivot area is as narrow as possible ,to increase the pivot action, consistent with sound brassiere construction.

In FIGURE 4 the longline brassiere 10a is similarly provided with a pivot area 50a between front section 12a and body band 16a. As in the embodiment shown in FIGURE 1, the upper elastic member 46a extends along the upper periphery of the cup 14a to the position 643a which permits support of the lower portion of the pectoral muscle.

The longline brassiere contains a midriff section 70 which extends to the waist of the wearer. This type of brassiere creates a smooth line between the bosom and the waist, fitting smoothly over the diaphragm. The lower elastic member 48a extends to the lower margin of the brassiere and with the upper elastic member enables the entire front section to be moved angularly with respect to the body band 16a about the pivot area 50a.

In the longline brassiere illustrated, I may provide a reinforcement or stiffening member at the junction line 72 and intermediate the body band at line 74 in the back region of the band to maintain the band in extended position. t

The midriff section 70 may be made of double thickness of material to provide adequate support above the diaphragm.

Other corresponding parts of the longline brassiere are similarly numbered to the parts of the brassiere illustrated Patented Sept. 26, 196i substantially inelastic fabric, cut or r 3 in FIGURE 1 with the letter a added. FIGURES 5 and 6 are similarly numbered.

Additional elasticity about the pivot area may be obtained if theelasticrnembers 46b and 48b are also extended in the direction of the body. band section 1612 and rearwardl-y of the pivot area 50b, as is shown in FIG- URE 5.

Pivot action may be obtained when the elastic members 46c and 480 extend only in the direction. of the body band 160 from the pivot area 50c, as is shown in FIG- URE 6.

Some individuals find the variants in construction shown in FIGURES 5 and 6 to be better suited to their physiques.

It will be understood that the elastic members are advantageously constructed for ease of elastic movement. Accordingly, these members, such. as 46 and 48, can be formed by doubling over elastic fabric so that the free edge (the upper edge of 46 and bottom edge of. 48) is a fold line along the direction of maximum elasticity of the fabric. Alternatively, other constructions that permit the free edges of these members to stretch easily may be used. In the case of the longline brassiere, the portion of the garment that is equivalent to the bottom edge of member 48 of the bandeau is inthe fabric and therefore stretches easily.

The pivot area with its narrow inelastic anchorage between the body band and the front section provides a means about which the entire front section may be angularly moved with respect to the body band Without loss of position and support. Thus the brassiere, when once fitted in position, will maintain itself without unduly riding up or down which frequently happens with many types of brassieres. The elastic members permit this relative movement without cutting or chafing of the skin or otherwise binding or marking the body. This minimizes strap strain, a characteristic of conventional types of brassieres.

Freedom of action is obtained without loss of desirable control. An essential feature of the pivot area is to provide a brassiere which will accommodate muscular movement of the upper part of the body and yet have improved characteristics with regard to strain and tension. All this is obtained in a brassiere which may be advantageously manufactured with substantial economies.

I have thus described my invention, but I desire it understood that it is not confined to the particular forms or uses shown and described, the same being merely illustrative, and that the invention can be carried out in other ways without departing from the spirit of my invention, and therefore I claim the right to employ all equivalent instrumentalities coming within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A brassiere comprising a front section having, cups for enclosing the breasts, a body band for supporting the front section to the body, said body band forming an inelastic anchorage with each side of the front section substantially in line with the horizontal median of the cups and a pair of elastic members positioned between the front section and the body band; one of said elastic members being positioned above the inelastic anchorage and joining an upper front section to an upper portion of the body band; and the other of the elastic members being below the inelastic anchorage and joining alower front section to a lower portion ofthe body band; whereby relative angular movement is provided between the, front section of the brassiere and the body band substantially about the inelastic anchorage.

2. The brassiere of claim 1 wherein the front section is provided with a lower panel to which the forward edge of the lower elastic member is secured.

3. The brassiere of claim 2 wherein the lower panel is made of the same piece of elastic material as is the lower elastic member.

4. The brassiere of claim 1 wherein the upper and lower elastic members extend forwardly from said inelastic anchorage in the direction of said front section.

5. The brassiere of claim 1 wherein the upper and lower elastic members ex-tend' rearwardly from said inelastic anchorage and front section.

6.- A brassiere comprising a front section having cups for enclosing the breasts; a body band for supporting the front section tothe body, said body band forming an inelastic anchorage with the front section; and a pair of elastic members positioned. between the outer upper and lower periphery of the: breast cups and the body band with the inelastic anchorage inbetween, the rearward edge of one of said elastic members being attached to the upper lateral edge of the body band, with the forward edge of the elastic member being attached to the upper outer periphery of: the adjacent breast cup, starting from the: inelastic anchorage and extending upwardly and inwardly along. the periphery over the breast cup to the position .of the pectoral muscle; another of said elastic members being positioned immediately below the inelastic anchorage having a rearward edge attached to the lower lateral. edge of the body band, with the forward edge attached to the lower: outer periphery of the breast cup starting from theinelastic. anchorage and extending to the lower edge of the front section of the brassiere and under the breast cup; said upper and lower elastic members providing a pivoting means with the inelastic anchorage to the front section whereby relative angular movement is provided between the front section of the brassiere and the body band substantially about the inelastic anchorage.

7. A brassiere comprising a front section having cups for enclosing the breasts; 2. body'bandfor supporting the front section to the body; said. body band forming an inelastic anchorage: with the. front section; and a pair of elastic members positioned between the front section and the body band with the inelastic anchorage inbetween,

the rearward edge of one ofsaid elastic members being attached to the upper. lateral edge of the body band, with the forward edge of the elastic member being attached to the upper outer periphery of the adjacent breast cup, startingv from the inelastic anchorage and extending up- Wardly and inwardly along. the periphery over the breast cup to: the position of the pectoral muscle; another of said elastic members being positioned immediately below the inelastic anchorage, having a rearward edge attached to the lower lateral edge of the body band, with the forward edge attached to the lower portion of the front section, starting fromthe inelastic anchorage and extending to the lower edge of the front section of the brassiere; said upper and lower elastic members providing a pivot means with the inelastic anchorage to the front section whereby relative angular movement is providedbetween the front section of the brassiere and the body band substantially about the inelastic anchorage.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

